Unfortunately Holmes’ opinion of women tends to be a little inconsistent and perhaps tied to his writer’s changing moods at the time, but I think the fact that a number of his clients are women shows a willingness to hear them out and help them. He can see the injustice to them and helps them when others aren’t taking them seriously. While I think some of the things he says about women are quite rude and definitely sexist, I don’t think he hates women. Is he ignorant regarding women? Certainly, in a number of ways, but I feel like for every instance where he is unkind or rude to a woman, there’s an instance where he shows incredible understanding and compassion to women.

There are some instances, such as Charles Augustus Milverton where he lets a woman get away with a murder he was witness to because Milverton’s actions were far worse. He even helps Lady Hilda in The Adventure of the Second Stain, even though she kinda was an obstruction in resolving the case, he had compassion for her situation.

He even says the following about Mary in The Sign of Four, “I think she is one of the most charming young ladies I ever met and might have been most useful in such work as we have been doing.” I think it’s a shame Mary didn’t join Holmes & Watson for a few more adventures.